In 2020, Nicolás Maduro was indicted in the United States on federal charges tied to large‑scale cocaine trafficking and so‑called “narco‑terrorism.” Prosecutors alleged that he and other senior Venezuelan officials worked with a network often referred to as the “Cartel de los Soles” to help move tons of cocaine toward the U.S. and to use drug shipments as a weapon against the United States.

Core charges in 2020

  • Narco‑terrorism conspiracy: U.S. authorities accused Maduro of conspiring with Colombian guerrilla group FARC and other traffickers to “flood” the U.S. with cocaine for both profit and political pressure.
  • Cocaine trafficking and importation conspiracy: The indictment alleged involvement in arranging and protecting multi‑ton cocaine shipments routed through Venezuela toward North America.
  • Weapons‑related offenses: Senior Venezuelan figures linked to Maduro were also charged in relation to providing military‑grade weapons and protection to traffickers tied to those drug routes.

How U.S. officials framed it

  • U.S. prosecutors portrayed Maduro as helping lead a state‑linked trafficking structure (the “Cartel de los Soles”) embedded in Venezuela’s military and political elite.
  • The U.S. government publicly announced rewards for information leading to his capture and tied the case to a broader pressure campaign against his government at the time.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.